Abstract
Keywords: vehicle dynamics, GPS, data acquisition, software tool, CAD programming.
GPS technology has a wide spreading for the large public. Now, it has enough advantages to be considered as a useful tool in the research activity. The price and the easiness of use make that type of devices very interesting for the experimental study of terrestrial vehicle dynamics. The paper presents some GPS data processing possibilities figured out by the authors. Valuable information regarding the vehicle kinematic and dynamic behaviour can be obtained. The authors realised a computer program that run over the AutoCAD platform, valorising its geometrical and list processing capabilities. The data can be imported from different GPS devices using standardised or proprietary data formats. The information can be split, trimmed or merged for adjusting the track records to the researcher specific needs. Also, the results can be exported in some large accepted formats, to be used in spreadsheet applications as Excel or in mapping software as standard GPX file format. Starting from time and three-dimensional position data, the vehicle velocity, acceleration, road slope, movement resistance force or powers and engine load can be derived. These kind of results can be plotted in diagrams for easier interpretation in domains as traffic flow statistics, fuel consumption, energy recuperation and vehicle load estimation.